Hawaii goes electric.
Hawaii has contracted with Better Place to build electric car stations statewide. Better Place plans to power these stations with a zero carbon footprint.
Better Place chose Hawaii for several reasons. The islands are a closed environment with few cars going in and out. It also has a variety of renewable energy sources already in place. For example, Better Place will use the energy from Hawaiian wind farms to recharge overnight when their power normally goes unused.
So, this is pretty cool. They hope to have it up and running by 2011. Ford, as part of its restructuring plan, will accelerate the roll out of it electric vehicles. Better Place already has gotten Nissan/Renault to agree to build plug-in vehicles that will recharge at their stations.
The Big 3 appear to actually have a plan this go 'round, have sold their corporate jets and will be driving hybrid vehicles to Washington and are talking about cutting back management bonuses, merit raises and executive salaries. Now if they can just build an electric car that people will buy...
Freeing ourselves from our addiction to oil will not be easy, but with folks like Better Place leading the way, it just got a little easier.
3 comments:
Thanks! It's nice to know someone besides my family members read it.
My husband, a scientist, has been talking about ideas for exchange stations for battery operated cars.
His idea is that a driver could stop as one usually would at a gas station, but change a decharging battery with a fresh one for a fee. The stations would then recharge the batteries and they would get recycled that way over and over again.
Of course, there are compatibility issues, etc., but the inevitable (unfortunately) bailout of the big three is a great opportunity to begin such sweeping changes.
I am so pissed off at these car people...they've been dragging their greedy little heels on this for way too long, and now that they HAVE to do something, they probably will...but will joe the public be able to afford them? so far most hybrids are out of reach....
I love companies who take the initiative....bravo Hawaii and Better Place!!!!!
Post a Comment